Indigenous communities in Peru’s Amazon uner threat from crime,land disputes,and state inaction
New report reveals rising violence, illegal land grabs, and institutional failures in Ucayali region and beyond
Ucayali, Peru — May 29, 2025 — A new report has sounded the alarm over the growing crisis facing Indigenous communities in Peru’s Amazon, where drug trafficking, illegal deforestation, and weak government protections are endangering lives and land.
The study, titled “Situación de los defensores indígenas en Ucayali 2024”, was released by AIDESEP Ucayali (ORAU) and Asociación ProPurús. It paints a grim picture of how Indigenous defenders — the first line of defense against Amazon destruction — are being silenced and killed.
1. Illegal Economies Are Fueling Violence
Peru’s Amazon has become a hotspot for interconnected criminal economies: illegal logging, gold mining, land grabbing, and, most significantly, coca cultivation for drug production.
Coca crops expanded by 280% between 2019 and 2023.
Clandestine airstrips are being built in Indigenous territories.
At least six Indigenous leaders, mostly from the Kakataibo people, have been assassinated since 2020.
The report describes drug trafficking as the “main driver of violence and insecurity,” generating constant threats for leaders who resist criminal encroachment.
2. Land Title Gaps Leave Communities Vulnerable
Many Indigenous groups are still waiting for formal recognition of their ancestral lands — a delay that opens the door for illegal land grabs and state-authorized concessions.
In places like Puerto Inca (Huánuco), no new Indigenous community has received full legal title since 2005. Meanwhile, the state continues to grant overlapping rights to:
Logging companies
Agribusiness interests
Cattle ranchers
Illegal actors
In Ucayali alone, over 100 communities are facing land conflicts driven by these legal overlaps and the expansion of illicit activities.
3. Deep Distrust in the State
The Peruvian government’s weak institutions and perceived complicity in corruption are making things worse. Many Indigenous communities no longer trust:
Police forces, seen as biased or even aligned with land grabbers
Prosecutors and judges, who often fail to act on complaints
Government ministries, which issue permits over Indigenous claims
This distrust has created a culture of silence and fear, where many victims don’t report crimes or seek institutional help.
What the Report Recommends
To reverse the crisis, the report calls on the Peruvian government to:
Strengthen territorial security in Indigenous regions
Implement early warning systems to detect and prevent attacks
Fund and reform key agencies, such as the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office
“If the state continues to abandon Indigenous defenders, it will not only lose the Amazon’s biodiversity — but also the trust and lives of those who protect it,” the report warns.